More Gentle Giant Bust Edition Sizes Set

[Seretur]

Strange, of the four Fellowship members released so far, only Gandalf looks the way he did while the Fellowship lasted.

There must be more Aragorns, Frodos and Sams on the way... considering that this is GG.

 

[nash]

multiple 9 Saruman busts to go with the 9 Ringwraith bust army, who wouldnt want to buy that?

 

[tomandshell]

Strange, of the four Fellowship members released so far, only Gandalf looks the way he did while the Fellowship lasted.

There must be more Aragorns, Frodos and Sams on the way... considering that this is GG.

I would like a set of nine Fellowship busts as they appeared in the first movie, and Strider is in his FOTR outfit so he counts. But I am passing on Frodo and Sam until they look like hobbits.

 

[Seretur]

Well... Strider is in his Prancing Pony outfit. He never looked like that after the formation of the Fellowship.

...I love splitting hairs.

 

[NASEDO]

The editions are too high. It's hard to think that GG will do better then Weta. Weta did a great job, some were 'off' but most where excellent. I'll be collecting the GG line, and I assume the next characters will be at 5000 edition sizes.

 

[gambit]

I would like a set of nine Fellowship busts as they appeared in the first movie, and Strider is in his FOTR outfit so he counts. But I am passing on Frodo and Sam until they look like hobbits.

same here, for we will never be able to collect it with SS PF format.

I think on ordering of Frodo and Sam so much but then decided to order for I want to keep the line complete until GG announces 10 convention exclusives

 

[DouglasMcc]

The Ringwraith is going to be the hardest to find piece in this entire line (barring any ghastly low ES exclusive that GG will pull) The low ES, the great sculpt, and the fact that people are buy multiples will make this a rarity in only a few months.

And that's the reason why I think it was stupid to only make 2000 Ringwraiths. Look how well the Stormtroopers and Sandtroopers sold at 10,000 ... not to mention the clones. Sure, the Ringwraith didn't come with multiple hands/setups, but that won't stop collectors from buying multiples. Sorry, I know you speculators ... sorry, couldn't resist, love low edition sizes. However, the Ringwraith is going to hurt this line in the near future. People are buying multiples of these by the wagon full. So, that 2000 edition size is really more like 800 to 1000 in peoples hands. So ... knowing how many completists there are among our collecting brothers and sisters, there people are going to find it hard to come by a Ringwraith and say, "ah, screw it!" Lower sales equal less product. And that's assuming GG doesn't find a way to screw this up like ... oh, I don't know ... producing Sam and Frodo in Orc armor first (sculpts look nice, but I bet they rot on the vine .. bad choice). I have decided to ride the 12" line out and pray. GG killed my hopes with Fugly Obi-Wan ... if I wasn't such a Star Wars geek, I would give up on them all together. If my Jedi Luke Bust looks like crap when it arrives, I still might.

P.S. Look at how the edition sizes have hurt interest in the Harry Potter line. The books sell millions of copies ... the movies bring in millions of more fans. Yet, only 2000 people can own Harry? Yeah, that only makes 2000 people happy ... the 200 or so real collectors who own a Harry, and the other 1800 speculators

 

[Darth Loki]

You make some good points but I think GG decides ES by how many pre-orders they get. When this line was first announced quite a few people were on the fence. Not until SDCC, when Gandalf, Balrog, and Saruman were announced did interest really boom. I never even thought of people buying multiple Wraiths because they all look the same. I'd love to have 2-3 total, but 9 seems a bit much. I hate a lot of what GG does, but I don't think the blame can be set on them this time.

As far as the HP busts, just give it a few more months. The lull in between movies and book releases has caused this line to sputter but it will pick up in July.

 

[The Josh]

The ringwraith is gonna go nutty on the secondary market. The ES of 2000 is low enough to generate interest but not high enough to kill it for others. The thing that will help it out and I'm sure has been mentioned (haven't read the whole thread) is that people are buying multiples. This will create a lack of them on ebay thus causing the price to rise and making it harder to get than most items at 2000 pieces.

 

[LOTRFan]

The ringwraith is gonna go nutty on the secondary market.

Maybe, but I think it is too early to tell. I haven't heard of a large number of collectors who were collecting the Weta busts say that they are going in head-first for the GG stuff. I know that there are some (maybe even many), but the majority seem to have been GG collectors first, not formerly collecting Weta. To me that says that the ES are too large (anything over 2000), I just don't see the LOTR draw for many anymore - sad too.

 

[The Josh]

Maybe, but I think it is too early to tell. I haven't heard of a large number of collectors who were collecting the Weta busts say that they are going in head-first for the GG stuff. I know that there are some (maybe even many), but the majority seem to have been GG collectors first, not formerly collecting Weta. To me that says that the ES are too large (anything over 2000), I just don't see the LOTR draw for many anymore - sad too.

Well, it doesn't have to have the folks who collected the SSW stuff to go crazy on ebay. From what I'm seeing on the GG Board there are people wanting it bad. Now, I'm not saying this will go for like $500 bucks or something but I could see it staying at or around $150-$200. I think the draw for LOTR is just fine. I honestly think there is more of a market there than what's being given. Sure, there are a folks that have moved on or don't care but I believe there are also many like me who are still there to collect.

 

[DouglasMcc]

The ringwraith is gonna go nutty on the secondary market. The ES of 2000 is low enough to generate interest but not high enough to kill it for others. The thing that will help it out and I'm sure has been mentioned (haven't read the whole thread) is that people are buying multiples. This will create a lack of them on ebay thus causing the price to rise and making it harder to get than most items at 2000 pieces.

No offense JL, but how is any of that good for collectors? Why should someone new to collecting or, in this case, a month or 2 behind, have to pay 100 dollars over retail? Now, I am not calling for the craziness of 10,000 Vader/Yoda from last year. However, 4,500 - esp. for the Ringwraiths would have been the perfect number. I could see 2,000 for Elrond or other minor characters(no offense, but his role in the movies, which these busts are based off, was minor), but not "big bads" as Whedon likes to put it.

Also, I doubt these will last long on the open market. The speculators will sell them quickly. Anyone hardcore enough to buy 3 Ringwraiths will probably not sell them - unless they encounter financial troubles. So, you soon find yourself unable to find a wraith. GG will be hesistant to make another for fear of angering the "it's all about me" crowd who hate re-releases. So, outside of a possible Witch King, its all downhill for the completest.

I guess this gets back into the whole edition size thing. I still feel the same way about edition-aholics - if the number of busts affects your decision to buy one, you really don't deserve it in the first place. I know that sounds harsh, but its suppose to be about the beauty of the piece, not the greed of the collector. Why does owning something with the hopes of its price going up matter if you are never going to sell it?

P.S. Just looking at the Sideshow Weta stuff sold out at SSC -

Morgul Lord - E.S. 4000
King of the Dead full size, 175 dollar statue - 6500
Ringwraith and Steed 275 dollar statue - 5000
Ringwraith Bust - no announced E.S. but other sites guess in the 4,000 to 5,000 range

So, if these pieces can sell out at those prices just a few short years ago, why can't they sell now? They could. If someone just had the sense to make them.

 

[The Josh]

No offense JL, but how is any of that good for collectors? Why should someone new to collecting or, in this case, a month or 2 behind, have to pay 100 dollars over retail? Now, I am not calling for the craziness of 10,000 Vader/Yoda from last year. However, 4,500 - esp. for the Ringwraiths would have been the perfect number. I could see 2,000 for Elrond or other minor characters(no offense, but his role in the movies, which these busts are based off, was minor), but not "big bads" as Whedon likes to put it.

No offense taken. I was simply talking about why this piece would do well on the secondary market for those that care. I honestly thought they might go a little higher on the ES to balance out everything. It sucks to have to pay above retail for anything but that's the life of a collector.

I guess this gets back into the whole edition size thing. I still feel the same way about edition-aholics - if the number of busts affects your decision to buy one, you really don't deserve it in the first place. I know that sounds harsh, but its suppose to be about the beauty of the piece, not the greed of the collector. Why does owning something with the hopes of its price going up matter if you are never going to sell it?

I'm with ya. The amount made does not effect my want to buy something nor my love of the item. I've passed on numerous items that had very low ES. Why? I just didn't want the item.

 

[LOTRFan]

I guess this gets back into the whole edition size thing. I still feel the same way about edition-aholics - if the number of busts affects your decision to buy one, you really don't deserve it in the first place. I know that sounds harsh, but its suppose to be about the beauty of the piece, not the greed of the collector. Why does owning something with the hopes of its price going up matter if you are never going to sell it?

Yeah, make everything open editions and drive their values down to bargain-store levels!

I for one like "limited edition collectibles," and that's exactly what the companies themselves are making. If you have an issue with that, take it up with the manufacturer.

It is continually amazing to me how collectors just love to berate and antagonize others for caring about edition size, secondary values, etc. If you look hard enough you will undoubtedly see that in almost EVERY case, the "fault" (if you have to use such a term) lies with the companies themselves. These products are marketed as limited editions, they are promoted as exclusives, given edition sizes of 50-75 or even 100 and yet the buyer is to blame. Come on, really, the buyer is the one dictating GG's continual decision to re-hash their items in black and white, or make european exclusives. The buyer is the one promoting a newsletter so that you can duke it out with your fellow collector to buy that uber-rare Spider-man statue. I think not!

No no, this is a synergy and an effective one at that. The manufacturers supply the demand with their respective marketing schemes (love them or hate them -- raffles, exclusives, etc); and buyers continue to line up for the latest craze.

 

[The Josh]

If someone else cares about the value, es, etc. No biggie to me. In the end the #1 thing I would think would be our love for the items we're collecting. Be it LOTR to Elmo. Whatever the reason it is what it is.

 

[DouglasMcc]

Yeah, make everything open editions and drive their values down to bargain-store levels!
I for one like "limited edition collectibles," and that's exactly what the companies themselves are making. If you have an issue with that, take it up with the manufacturer.

It is continually amazing to me how collectors just love to berate and antagonize others for caring about edition size, secondary values, etc. If you look hard enough you will undoubtedly see that in almost EVERY case, the "fault" (if you have to use such a term) lies with the companies themselves. These products are marketed as limited editions, they are promoted as exclusives, given edition sizes of 50-75 or even 100 and yet the buyer is to blame. Come on, really, the buyer is the one dictating GG's continual decision to re-hash their items in black and white, or make european exclusives. The buyer is the one promoting a newsletter so that you can duke it out with your fellow collector to buy that uber-rare Spider-man statue. I think not!

No no, this is a synergy and an effective one at that. The manufacturers supply the demand with their respective marketing schemes (love them or hate them -- raffles, exclusives, etc); and buyers continue to line up for the latest craze.

You answered your own question there. Edition-aholics whine and complain (not referring to you specifically ... in general) if the edition size is too "large". GG thinks "oh no" and lowers the edition sizes. Only problem is the whiners are in the minority ... but they have the loudest voices. Then 5 or 6 busts down the line, GG panics wondering "why aren't our busts selling like before?" Well, its because the majority of collectors couldn't get the original items and gave up on the line as a whole.

I can handle people who are edition-aholics over expensive items such as 1:1 busts, statues, PF, etc. that cost lots of money. These items do not appeal to the casual collector, so it makes sense to tailor them to the hardcore collectors. However, mini-busts are in the price range of most every collector. Every adult Harry Potter fan (and some of the children with middle income parents) could afford a nice Harry Potter bust. However, if there are only 2000 of them and the price jumps up to 200 bucks, then the advantage of the mini-bust is gone. Might as well buy a statue. Or, as with most common collectors, give up on a line all together.

P.S. So, you are saying that if the quality and design were equal, you wouldn't like your collectibles for economic "bargain store" prices? If so, you are collecting for the wrong reasons imho.

 

[LOTRFan]

I can handle people who are edition-aholics over expensive items such as 1:1 busts, statues, PF, etc. that cost lots of money.

However, mini-busts are in the price range of most every collector. Every Harry Potter fan (and some of the children with middle income parents) could afford a nice Harry Potter bust. However, if there are only 2000 of them and the price jumps up to 200 bucks, then the advantage of the mini-bust is gone. Might as well buy a statue. Or, as with most common collectors, give up on a line all together.

Well seeing as there are no 1:1, PF or any other form of Harry Potter collectibles, that is moot, and not worth discussing. What is worth discussing is regardless of initial retail price - what is the very nature of these items? They are "limited edition collector's items." Who made them that way, the collector or the manufacturer?

P.S. So, you are saying that if the quality and design were equal, you wouldn't like your collectibles for economic "bargain store" prices? If so, you are collecting for the wrong reasons imho.

What I am saying is simply this: I love the films/source material behind what I collect. I also love the limited nature of the items themselves. If those two are coupled in a way that satisfies me as a wise consumer AND collector then I purchase the item. When one component of the equation does not line up, I either a) buy an item that was WAY over made at bargain prices, or b) let an item go that I don't believe is of a quality worthy of the price (ES or not).

 

[LOTRFan]

You answered your own question there. Edition-aholics whine and complain (not referring to you specifically ... in general) if the edition size is too "large". GG thinks "oh no" and lowers the edition sizes. Only problem is the whiners are in the minority ... but they have the loudest voices. Then 5 or 6 busts down the line, GG panics wondering "why aren't our busts selling like before?" Well, its because the majority of collectors couldn't get the original items and gave up on the line as a whole.

This point isn't very well stated either. You yourself brought up the recent releases of both Vader and Yoda in the GG bust line, both had astronomical edition sizes, but I doubt very much it had anything to do with collector response. The more likely scenario is that GG knew that they could sell such inflated quantities - and they did - and EVERY time a company can sell more product they will, imagine that would you?! These companies have been in "it" long enough to know how this works, and for the most part better than we do. Even the latest Sideshow catalog has an entire article devoted to "limited editions." They know that collector's love that, yes, "collectors!" To say that "5 or 6 busts down the line GG panics" is missing the point, these items are in production/construction, long before we see them - and I highly doubt that any successful company is stammering around waiting for the vocal collectors to completely run their company.

Simply put, I don't want to live in a world (hah, as if there aren't more important things! ) where everyone has access to these items, they will lose all collectible value to me.

 

[Bannister]

I guess this gets back into the whole edition size thing. I still feel the same way about edition-aholics - if the number of busts affects your decision to buy one, you really don't deserve it in the first place.

I feel bad for my four Ringwraith busts, since they are currently owned by such an undeserving *******.

 

[DouglasMcc]

This point isn't very well stated either. You yourself brought up the recent releases of both Vader and Yoda in the GG bust line, both had astronomical edition sizes, but I doubt very much it had anything to do with collector response.

Actually, the point seems rather obvious. However, you don't seem to understand. I would never expect a company to start a line with 10,000 busts. That's a little too many without proof the line has legs. HOWEVER, they could have very easily looked at Sideshow WETA's mini bust line and their E.S. 4,500 to 6,000 and manufactured them somewhere in that range. SSC and WETA have proven that there are at least that many customers out there. Plus, GG had to have known that people would buy multiple Wraiths. Its bad planning on their part and it will come back to haunt them.

Simply put, I don't want to live in a world (hah, as if there aren't more important things! ) where everyone has access to these items, they will lose all collectible value to me.

Well, at least your honest. Most edition-aholics come up with little excuses and what not. Good for you. Unfortunately, that's the very attitude that's killing collectibles for me. That's the nature of the beast that causes an adult male to knock down a child in a Wal-Mart to get that clone ... cause he's only 1 to case, after all. Only he will have it and if he decides to sale it, well, it will fetch a mint on eBay. Sure, you can claim some sort of superiority due to the cost of GG and SSC items. But its the same thing. Collecting is suppose to be about the art and the item ... not the limited nature of it. Sure, MSRP cost often limits us - i.e. not many fans can afford 2500 for a studio scale Falcon - but these items should still be available to all. If 10,000 people want to own a Strider/Wraith bust, you should be ecstatic. Means other people are into the source and it will remain in the forefront, bringing with it, future collectibles to add. If you collect to deny others ... i.e. enjoy something just because the majority of the world can't own something ... is that really collecting? Maybe ... but just consider this ... Are you getting your joy from the item or the greed of owning the item?

And the irony of it all is that your response is in a Lord of the Rings section. Hmm ... those limited collectibles certainly paid off for the 9 Kings of Man and Gollum. They were the only ones in all the world who got to own them ... and it sure made them feel special. Only cost them a little ... not that they would have missed what they sacrificed. Sure, that's a little factitious ... but the concept is so similar its scary. When the LOTR collectibles dry up because everyone has lost interest ... mainly due to the limited nature of their collectibles ... what "precious" will you chase after then?


P.S. I apologize if I offended anyone. I just wanted to point out something that I see as a problem ... not attach anyone in particular.